Translate old letters: from Gothic script to readable text

An old letter in Gothic script can feel like a locked door. You can hold it in your hand, but not read what it says. This article explains how to have old letters deciphered - and translated, if the family is spread across the world.

First decipher, then understand

Making an old letter readable happens in two steps. First the Gothic script is deciphered into letters we can read today. Then the text can be translated - for example from old Danish into modern Danish, or into an entirely different language. MormorsBreve does both in the same workflow.

Three versions for different purposes

You get the text in three versions: true to the original (good for genealogy), AI-supplemented (gaps filled in sensibly) and free interpretation (fluent modern Danish, good for reading aloud). So you decide for yourself how close to the original you want to be.

Translation for family abroad

If there are relatives abroad - for example descendants of Danish emigrants in America - the text can be translated into English or over 30 other languages, at no extra cost. So the whole family can read along, wherever they live.

Upload a photo of the letter to MormorsBreve and see the first pages for free. If the Gothic script gives you trouble, start with our guide to deciphering Gothic script.